Dear Drs. Beasley,
My husband attended college on a tennis scholarship and still enjoys the game. However, he wants our four year old son Nicholas to take up golf and uses Tiger Woods as an example of how early coaching can lead to a big income later in Nicholas’ life. My husband even bought Nicholas a toy golf club and some plastic golf balls to play with. I’m afraid he is going overboard and will burn our son out on what could be an enjoyable pastime later in his life. What do you think?
Merrie

Dr. Stewart: Ah! The Tiger Woods theory of child development. Lori and I have heard that one a few times. For
every one Tiger Woods type athlete, there are thousands of frustrated children and parents who butt heads on a regular basis, arguing over practice and free time. There is no doubt that Tiger’s time hitting golf balls under his dad’s watchful eye produced a world-class athlete. But I’m afraid that if children could vote, they would cast their vote to never be compared to Tiger Woods again!

Dr. Lori: Stewart and I have noticed a growing trend of two- and three-year-olds with oversize tennis rackets on local tennis courts, working out at neighborhood swimming pools several hours each week, or practicing gymnastics in local gyms. Little League is also part of the trend in sports which has children playing organized sports at ages when their parents were still in sandboxes trying to master a bucket and shovel. Parents seem to feel that to stay up with the perceived competition, starting their child on the road to professional athleticism at three or four is necessary and that
five may be too late.

Dr. Stewart: I think parents may also see college scholarships down the line for their emerging superstars. There is little doubt that college tuition continues to spiral upward, making higher education seem an unattainable goal for many of today’s children. To help with those future college tuition payments, parents may put a soccer ball (or a golf club) in front of their child soon after he takes his first step.

Dr. Lori: It’s important for your husband to remember that Nicholas already has a job—and that is to be a child. Nicholas should be an eager four year old who plays hard, is forever curious, and loves life. His early life should be as carefree as possible and his self concept should be developing along positive lines as both of you encourage and nurture him to be a little boy. There is plenty of time to be an adult.

Dr. Stewart: The number one reason why children want to quit organized sports is because it has ceased being fun. “Toddler burnout” occurs when play becomes work. Toddlers may express their distress in many ways— crankiness, anger, sleeping or eating difficulties, toilet training regression, even excessive clinginess or shyness. These all may be signs that something is not right in your child’s life.

Dr. Lori: Keep in mind that sportsrelated injuries may occur more easily in children. Their muscles and bones are still developing, and small injuries such as sprains and hyperextensions can sometimes result in chronic pain and arthritis later. One pediatric sports medicine specialist in New York reports that he has seen a drastic increase in “over-use” injuries in his pediatric patients. Ten years ago a mere 10% of his patients had these injuries, while today it has increased to 75%.

Dr. Stewart: Of course, we have all read about the alarming rate of childhood obesity in America and the low number of children engaging in regular physical activity. So, a certain amount of sports activity and practice is good for your child. 

Dr. Lori: But three- and four-year-olds can learn important skills just as well playing catch and kicking the ball with their peers and parents in the back yard as they can in formal team sports or extreme parent coaching. The important
element is to make sure the sport you choose stays fun for your child.

Lori Beasley, EdD is Asst. Vice President of Academic Affairs and Professor of Family Life Education at the University of Central Oklahoma. Stewart R. Beasley, PhD is a licensed psychologist who practices in Edmond and Oklahoma City and is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. Do you have a question about early childhood issues for the Beasleys? Email it to SRB@DRStewartBeasley.com.